By Cassie Patton
All across the world, families will once again come together to celebrate the arrival of Easter. As Americans, we tend to mix things up and go against the status quo, and for Easter, some of us will do just that by splurging on our famous honey-glazed ham, while other countries will likely be serving up lamb. For the ham lovers, this is how your juicy pig came to be the main centerpiece of Easter.
Up until the early 20th century, many did not have dependable refrigeration methods, as we do today. Consequently, meat preservation techniques were largely relied upon, with smoking, salting, and curing being the most popular methods. Curing was designed to preserve what meat hadn’t been sold by the farmer in the fall so it would last till spring.
Fast forward to both World Wars, wool was the standard fabric of uniforms. Wool was praised for its warmth and long-lasting material. With this type of material made for combat, it would go on to help the soldiers in the freezing trenches of Europe. Wool coats, socks, and blankets would be somewhat of a barrier for the bone-chilling weather conditions. Wool also offered some flame resistance, giving an extra layer of protection in battle zones where soldiers would encounter explosions and open flames.
Since the military uniforms were primarily made from wool, sheep were in high demand in the U.S. However, after World War II, the price of lamb skyrocketed as there was a collapse in the wool market, along with high labor costs and a lasting consumer aversion to the meat. Because of this, we get the delicious spiral ham. In 1957, the first Honey Baked Ham Store on Eight Mile Road in Detroit opened to the public. Harry J. Hoenselaar was the founder of the first spiral ham slicer, which is still used today in commercial settings, such as one’s local market. In honor of Hoenselaar’s creation, April 15 is national Glazed Spiral Ham Day.
While it’s possible to find ham in other countries for Easter, lamb remains the most traditional Easter symbol in most European and Mediterranean countries, carrying a strong symbolism as the “Lamb of God,” which is also connected to the Jewish Passover.
Something the U.S. has in common with the rest of the world on Easter is our love for indulging in the craftiness of decorating the world-popular Easter egg. This tradition dates back to Mesopotamia, when ancient peoples dyed the eggs red to represent Christ’s blood that was shed. Other colors have since emerged. Yellow is said to represent the resurrection, and blue represents God’s (or the divine’s) unconditional love.
Let’s not forget the children’s favorite activity of all: the Easter egg hunt! According to chaseoaks.org, “Easter egg hunts originated with early Christian missionaries who hid eggs painted with gospel scenes for the children to find and use to tell the Easter story. This tradition is also associated with Martin Luther, who had men hide eggs for women and children, mirroring the joy the women at the tomb of Jeus felt when it was discovered empty.”
Hoppy Easter!
Cassie Patton, born and raised in Washington state, says she has always enjoyed writing about any topic possible. When not actively writing, she can be found baking up a sweet treat or watching football.
